Right-hander Sidney Ponson still does not have a career victory against the Indians, but the veteran gave the Royals a quality start in a no-decision Wednesday.
Ponson permitted two runs on six hits in six innings in the Royals' 5-4 loss to Cleveland. Ponson walked three and struck out three. "In general, I was happy with my mechanics," Ponson said. "But, still, we had a chance to sweep these guys, but we didn't. We took two out of three. That's pretty good."
Ponson is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in starts on this homestand against the Indians and Yankees. He has allowed 12 hits and six runs in 12 innings while walking six and striking out eight.
Ponson's career numbers against the Indians are 0-7 with an 8.60 ERA in 14 games, 13 of them starts. Eight of those 13 appearances came between 1998 and 2000.
The Indians scored solo runs in the third and sixth inning off Ponson, who threw 50 strikes in 90 pitches before departing with the score tied 2-2.
INDIANS 5, ROYALS 4: Mark Teahen tried to stretch a single into a double to leadoff the Royals' eighth but was thrown out by Shin-Soo Choo. That turned out to be a bad mistake as the next batter, Mike Jacobs homered. If Teahen had stayed at first, the Royals would have tied the score. Kyle Farnsworth, the second of five Kansas City pitchers, took the loss, giving up three runs on two hits and a walk while retiring only one of the four batters he faced.
